Kashf Journal of Multidisciplinary Research
The Kashf Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, published by the Kashf Institute of Development & Studies, is an HEC-recognized multidisciplinary journal. It serves as a platform for scholarly exploration across various disciplines, accepting research papers that undergo a rigorous peer-review process. KJMR is a platform for scholarly exploration across various disciplines. It accepts research papers that undergo a rigorous peer-review process and publishes findings relevant to academics, policymakers, and practitioners. This journal encourages cross-pollination of ideas between different fields, potentially impacting areas like social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and engineering. Overall, it contributes to advancing knowledge, informing practice, and stimulating innovation across a broad spectrum of disciplines. e-ISSN: 3007-200X p-ISSN: 3007-1992
KASHF INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT & STUDIES
FASHION AND SUSTAINABILITY: TOWARDS A GREENER FUTURE
Copyright (c) 2025 Umbreen Kanwal Dogar, Shahid Zaheer (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AWARENESS OF RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER, SELF-BREAST EXAMINATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN SKARDU, GILGIT BALTISTAN: A COMMUNITY BASED SURVEY
Background: Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in Pakistan, with one in nine at lifetime risk. Early detection through breast self-examination (BSE) is critical, yet its practice depends on adequate awareness of risk factors, which remains poorly characterized in rural regions like Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan. Objective: This study assessed the awareness of BC risk factors and BSE practices and identified associated sociodemographic factors among women aged ≥15 years in Skardu. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from November 2022 to June 2023. Using multistage stratified random sampling, 412 women were enrolled. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic, medical history, and awareness of BC risk factors and BSE. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for analysis. Results: Awareness was critically low: 73.8% (n=304) could not name a familial risk factor, and only 4.6% (n=19) knew the correct BSE procedure. High awareness of BC risk factors was significantly associated with higher perceived income (p=0.051), personal history of BC (p=0.044), and contraceptive type (p=0.007). Awareness of BSE was linked to marital status, education level, breastfeeding history, and family history of BC (p<0.05). Conclusion: There is a profound deficit in knowledge regarding BC risk factors and BSE among women in Skardu. Targeted, culturally sensitive awareness campaigns and educational interventions are urgently needed to promote early detection practices in this region.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nosheen Niaz, Hasina Niaz, Norina Niaz, Samina Anwaar, Sheraz Farzd (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AN ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF WOMAN IN NAJEEBA ARIF’S SHORT STORY “PICHHLI RAAT KA JADOO"
Najeeba Arif, an eminent Urdu writer, critic, and academic, is widely known for addressing existential and gender-based concerns in her creative and critical works. This paper offers a critical reading of her short story “Pichhli Raat ka Jadoo”, with particular focus on the suppressed desires and existential condition of its female protagonist. Unlike conventional portrayals of women suffering from material deprivation, this story depicts a character whose economic needs are met but whose emotional and conjugal aspirations are systematically denied by her husband. This persistent negation gradually compels her to silence her own longings, leading to a slow existential suffocation and eventual symbolic death. Employing Martha C. Nussbaum’s Objectification Theory, the study examines how patriarchal dynamics strip the woman of subjectivity and reduce her to an object. At the same time, the analysis foregrounds the writer’s subtle critique of this reduction, highlighting her reassertion of female agency and existential significance. By situating the narrative within the broader framework of contemporary Urdu fiction and feminist literary discourse, this research underscores the writer’s vital contribution to reshaping representations of women in literature.
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Aqlima Naz (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
UTERINE FACTOR INFERTILITY: A MAJOR ISSUE OF THE PRESENT AGE
Uterine Factor Infertility (UFI) represents a definitive and challenging subtype of female infertility, characterized by the uterus itself being the principal barrier to gestation. It encompasses Absolute UFI (AUFI), involving anatomical absence, and Non-Absolute UFI (NAUFI), involving a nonfunctional uterus. This systematic review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, etiologies, and treatment landscape of UFI. Despite its clinical significance, reliable population-based and age-stratified prevalence data, particularly for women under 40, remain scarce. A key finding is the variable prevalence of hysterectomy—a major cause of AUFI—ranging from 1.70% to 10.0% in international studies. Congenital anomalies, intrauterine pathologies, and iatrogenic damage constitute other primary causes. For women with AUFI, traditional paths to biological parenthood are limited to adoption or surrogacy. Uterus transplantation (UTx) has emerged as a pioneering, albeit experimental, treatment offering the potential for gestation, with over 50 live births reported globally. However, significant surgical, immunosuppressive, and ethical challenges persist. This review underscores the urgent need for robust epidemiological studies to guide resource allocation and highlights UTx as a dynamic frontier in restoring reproductive potential for this patient population.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sana Bahadar, Amir Nawaz, Hilal Ahmad Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ENHANCING CLINICAL APPLICABILITY OF CNN MODELS FOR PNEUMONIA DETECTION IN CHEST X-RAYS
In order to lower the mortality rates linked to pneumonia which continues to be a major danger to global health quick and precise diagnostic tools are required. Deep learning combined with chest X-ray imaging has become a revolutionary method for automatic pneumonia identification. By carefully assessing and refining four well-known architectures AlexNet, ResNet18, DenseNet201 and SqueezeNet this study aims to improve the clinical usability of convolutional neural network models. In order to replicate real-world clinical limitations, we used transfer learning and trained each model only on CPU-based hardware using a three-class chest X-ray dataset of 5,863 pictures classified into normal, bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia. Classification accuracy computing efficiency and deployment feasibility in resource-constrained environments were used to evaluate performance. Our results show that while all models achieve impressive accuracy ResNet18 and DenseNet201 are especially well-suited for real-world clinical implementation without requiring expensive GPU infrastructure because they strike the ideal balance between diagnostic precision and computational feasibility. In order to enable efficient and trustworthy pneumonia detection in a variety of healthcare settings this study offers a useful and comparative approach for CNN model selection and optimization.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sabeen Fatima Majid, Dr. Hira Zahid, Nabeeha Sahar, Hamza Khan, Shahzad Nasim (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DETERMINANTS OF CROWDFUNDING PARTICIPATION: THE INTERPLAY OF PERCEIVED USEFULNESS, TECHNOLOGY READINESS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY
This study investigates the determinants of crowdfunding in Pakistan through an integrated moderating and mediating model. In this study, trust in crowdfunding serves as a mediating variable, while financial literacy acts as a moderating variable. Data were collected from 314 respondents using a structured online questionnaire distributed to entrepreneurs, small business owners, and digital finance users. The data were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS, employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for measurement and structural analysis. Results reveal that smart device usage readiness and digital financial services significantly influence crowdfunding adoption, while perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were not significant predictors. Trust in crowdfunding mediated the relationships between smart device readiness, technology readiness, and digital financial services with adoption, whereas financial literacy moderated only the link between digital financial services and adoption. The findings highlight that infrastructural and trust factors outweigh traditional technology acceptance constructs in shaping crowdfunding behavior in developing contexts. The study contributes to the theoretical refinement of TAM and UTAUT in FinTech research and offers practical implications for policymakers and platform developers aiming to enhance digital trust, financial literacy, and inclusive crowdfunding ecosystems in Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Yasir Tahir, Muhammad Sadiq Shahid, Khawar Naheed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AI-INTEGRATED IoT SYSTEM USING MACHINE LEARNING TECHNIQUES FOR CONTINUOUS HEALTH TRACKING AND PREDICTIVE PATIENT MONITORING
The combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming modern healthcare, especially in the area of remote patient monitoring and disease management. This study focuses on designing and improving an intelligent remote health-monitoring framework that utilizes IoT-based sensing devices together with machine learning techniques. The aim is to enhance diagnostic accuracy, enable real-time health data processing, ensure secure data transmission, and support seamless system integration to improve patient outcomes. To overcome key challenges—including unreliable data, privacy risks, and limited computational resources—a novel and efficient monitoring approach is presented. Multiple machine learning models, such as Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), are applied to analyze vital parameters like heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG signals. Experimental results show that the Random Forest classifier delivers superior performance across accuracy, precision, and recall metrics, making it well suited for real-time healthcare applications. Overall, this research contributes practical insights into AI-driven remote health systems and sets a strong foundation for future advancements in personalized, scalable, and cost-effective healthcare technologies.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Awais Khan , Haider Ali Arshad, Muhammad Tanveer Meeran, Muhammad Faisal Sohail, Salahuddin (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DEEP SEMANTIC INTELLIGENCE FOR TWITTER SPAM DETECTION USING LATENT SEMANTIC ANALYSIS
Social media platforms, particularly Twitter, have become integral to global communication, enabling users to share information instantly with large audiences. However, Twitter’s growing popularity has attracted malicious actors who spread misinformation, phishing attempts, and other spam content. This paper introduces a novel hybrid approach that combines Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) with traditional machine learning classifiers to effectively distinguish between legitimate and spam tweets. We collected and processed over 5.5 million tweets using Twitter’s API, extracted key features using a statistically validated LSA technique, and implemented four supervised learning algorithms: Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, and Logistic Regression. The experiments were conducted using rigorous 10-fold cross-validation, and models were evaluated based on accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. Our LSA-enhanced approach demonstrated significant performance improvements over traditional methods, with the Naïve Bayes classifier achieving 96.82% accuracy, representing a 5.49% improvement over baseline techniques. Additional error analysis revealed that our approach is particularly effective at identifying evolving spam patterns involving promotional content and malicious URLs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Haroon, Shakeeb A. Khan, Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Abrar, Shoaib Ali Qureshi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Unified Computational Intelligent Framework for Medical Image Smart Retrieval using Hybrid Feature Modeling
Over the past few decades, Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) has emerged as one of the most prominent research areas within the domain of computer vision. With the continuous growth of visual data and the rapid expansion of the internet, there is a growing demand for retrieval strategies that go beyond simple text-based methods and provide more relevant, user-oriented access to multimedia content. Various systems and tools have been developed to facilitate efficient querying and interaction with large-scale audio-visual databases. However, significant challenges remain, particularly when dealing with massive and diverse image repositories. In the medical field, digital imaging plays a crucial role, as images are generated from various instruments and modalities. The identification of image modalities is a critical step that helps narrow down the scope of analysis and enhances the precision of search results. The objective of this research is to design a well-structured classification and retrieval framework capable of categorizing medical images based on their respective modalities. The proposed approach focuses on modality-based classification and retrieval of medical images. Experiments were conducted using the dataset employed for the ImageCLEF2012 modality classification task. The classification process relies on visual features extracted from each image, including Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) , Local Binary Pattern (LBP) , Local Ternary Pattern (LTP) , Edge Histogram Descriptor (EHD) , Color and Edge Directivity Descriptor (CEDD) , Color Edge Detector using Wavelet Transform , and Color Histogram . These features are subsequently combined into a single composite feature vector, which serves as input to a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier with a chi-square kernel for categorization into 31 distinct modality classes. The proposed framework achieved an overall classification accuracy of 72.2%, which represents a 2.6% improvement over the highest accuracy previously reported in the ImageCLEF2012 competition using visual feature-based methods.
Digital Image, Machine Learning, Edge Histogram Descriptor, Scale-Invariant Feature transform
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Awais Khan, Hamza Arif, Haider Ali Arshad, Hafiz Muhammad Ijaz, Muhammad Tanveer Meeran (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
COMPARATIVE MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA AND CARCINOMA EX-PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMA
Introduction: Salivary gland tumours can be categorized as either benign or malignant based on histopathology. Benign tumors comprise about two-thirds of all neoplasms of the salivary glands. The most common type is pleomorphic adenoma. Malignant tumors are less common but biologically different and clinically significant. A malignant epithelial tumour recognized as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex PA) develops from an underlying pleomorphic adenoma (PA), signifying a change from benign to malignant neoplasia in the salivary glands. The diagnosis of these tumours have been completely transformed by molecular techniques. Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the specific genetic alterations that differentiate pleomorphic adenoma (PA) from carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex PA) using NGS. Material And Methods: This study was conducted at Institute of Pathology and diagnostic Medicine KMU, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital Lahore and Lab Genetics Lahore. Four patients of both genders were selected through Non-probability convenience sampling technique. All patients included were diagnosed with Pleomorphic Adenoma and Carcinoma-ex-Pleomorphic Adenoma of salivary gland. Bioinformatics analysis were performed on a Linux computer cluster. Results: In this study 4 cases of salivary gland tumors (2 benign pleomorphic adenomas and 2 malignant carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma, Ca ex PA) were analyzed using clinical data and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the molecular drivers of benign and malignant transformation. Recurrent PLAG1 activation emerged as a central oncogenic driver across four salivary gland tumors, involving PLAG1–CTNNB1 and PLAG1–LIFR fusions in pleomorphic adenomas, each leading to constitutive PLAG1 overexpression. In contrast, carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenomas demonstrated greater genomic complexity, including PLAG1 rearrangements or PLAG1–TCEA1 fusion accompanied by HMG2 copy-number gains. These findings suggest that while PLAG1-driven fusions initiate tumorigenesis, secondary alterations such as HMG2 amplification promote malignant transformation and increased tumor aggressiveness. Conclusions: PLAG1 gene fusions (with CTNNB1, LIFR) are key molecular events leading to pleomorphic adenoma formation. Progression to carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma occurs when PLAG1 or LIFR fusions are accompanied by HMG2 gene gain, indicating dual oncogenic activation.
carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex PA)
Copyright (c) 2025 Mashooq Khan, Dr Bibi Maryam, Abdul Malik, Abdullah, Waqas Ahmad, Arsalan Waqas Ahmad Shah, Dr Zia Ur Rehman Farooqi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EMERGENT COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR: PROBING THE DENSITY DEPENDENCE WITH THE VICSEK MODEL
The Vicsek model provides as a primary outline for studying the emergence of collective motion or “flocking” from simple limited interaction rules among self – propelled particles. This work examines the particular effect of particle density on the collective behaviour and commanding within such an organization. Simulations were carried out using FORTRAN program in a Linux atmosphere, with parameters including particle speed, noise and interaction radius held constant whereas carefully varying the number of particles (N) from 10 to 2000 within a fixed spatial box. The normalized average velocity (va) was used for quantifying the degree of collective motion. The results reveal apparent and non-monotonic reliance behaviour on particle density. Particles move independently with minimal consistency at very low densities. By increasing density, transitions takes place where particles begin to form coherently moving clusters. Although, at intermediary densities, group formation can lead to a decrease in universal order if groups move in dissimilar directions. At extremely high densities, a high degree of global alignment is constantly covered, with the system possessing strong polar order (va ≈ 0.999). The present work concludes that while enhancing density usually promotes collective motion, the relation is complicated, with optimal global coordination emerging at sufficiently high densities where local interactions percolate throughout the complete system.
Copyright (c) 2025 Murtaza Hussain Shar, Dr. Israr Ahmed Memon, Dr. Abdul Rahim Shar, Mr. Mazhar Ali Sahito (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
TIME COMPLEXITY ANALYSIS OF SINGLE SOURCE SHORTEST PATH (SSSP) ALGORITHMS
There are real-world complex networks formed by people, roads, communication network nodes, genes, file Servers and financial transactions etc based on their interdependent associations. Often, there exist multiple paths to connect one of the network nodes to another in the networks. Various situations demand shortest path to reach from one node to another. To find shortest path between a pair of the nodes is challenging in terms of computational cost, therefore, competing algorithms for Shortest Path problem are analyzed to predict their greediness for the computing resources such as memory, bandwidth, or hardware but most often its computational time. The scope of this work is to provide comprehensive knowledge on single-source shortest path problem and analyze time complexity of the prominent single-source shortest path algorithms.
Copyright (c) 2025 Khalid Nooruddin Charan, Saad Akbar, Raza Hussain Shah, Mohammad Ayub Latif, Abdul Razaque (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF FETALRENAL ARTERY IN OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS AND POLYHYDRAMNIOS IN 3RD TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY
Background Another source of information is fetal renal artery Doppler, which is relevant to explain fetal renal artery perfusion and its relation with the amniotic fluid volume during the third trimester. Some of the common complications are the abnormalities of the amniotic fluid including oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios which could be indicators of inefficient functioning of the kidney or placental functions. Indices of renal artery like Resistive Index, Pulsatility Index can be adopted to determine the change in fetal hemodynamics and the possible risk to fetal health. Objective To investigate sonographic assessment of fetal renal artery in oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios in 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Methodology The present descriptive cross-sectional research study was carried out in Ali Hospital, Illahabad, District Kasur, and a period of four months. Sixty two third trimester pregnant women were utilized where 30 had oligohydramnios (AFI 5 cm or less) and 32 polyhydramnios (AFI 25 cm or more). The ultrasound probe that was used was Toshiba 300X curvilinear probe and frequency 2-9 MHz and fetal renal artery Doppler index (RI, PI, ratio of S/D) had been documented. Analysis of data was performed with the help of SPSS 25 and descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were implemented. Results This study utilized 62 (30 = 48.4) pregnant women in the 3 rd trimester; 30 (48.4) possessing oligohydramnios (AFI 0 to 5 cm) and 32 (51.6) possessing polyhydramnios (AFI 25 to 99 cm) AFI. The average age of the mothers was 29.33 years with SD of 6.43 and the average gestation was 33.81 and SD of 3.39 weeks. The average fetal weight was 2726.94 /738.32. The Biparietal Diameter of the head (Mean), Circumference of Head, Circumference of the Abdomen and Femur Length were compatible with the gestational age. Both RI and PI valves were more elevated in Oligohydramnios group than in polyhydramnios group and this is indicated by, the increased renal vascular resistance and decreased value of renal perfusion respectively. Conclusion In the third trimester of pregnancy, the amniotic fluid is linked to the fetal renal artery sonography which is a good predictor of the fetal renal perfusion. High resistance indices in renal artery have been linked to oligohydramnios that is an indicator of poor blood circulation to the kidney and low urine volumes. Polyhydramnios is also associated with low resistance indices that indicates high renal perfusion and renal output of urine. Therefore, the fetal renal artery Doppler is an inexpensive, non-invasive and practical routine of assessing renal functioning, existence of maladjusted fetuses, and enhancing obstetric intervention in the circumstance of anomalies in the amniotic fluid.
Copyright (c) 2025 Minahil Dost Muhammad, Jawaria, Muhammad Naeem, Mehreen Anwar, Fatima Raza (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ADVANCED NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF MULTILANE TRAFFIC DYNAMICS USING A MODIFIED LWR MODEL WITH RAMPS
The traffic flow modeling is a broad area of research that deals with the formulation of mathematical models to understand, predict and design the traffic flow systems. In this research a traffic flow simulation study is conducted by modifying the Lighthill, Whitham and Richards (LWR) model. The main objective is to include the ramps and multi-lanes in the model and analyze their effects on the road sections. The modified model is discretized by using finite difference method (FDM) and applied on a typical road section of length 4KM with four ramps (the road section is adjacent to Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabshah). Based on the fact that the initial density of cars on road section, with ramps is usually unknown because of instantaneous change therefore a statistical data analysis was conducted. The initial data for a complete week from 7:00 am to 06:00 pm was obtained manually by counting the number of cars entering and leaving from the road sections. From, the data analysis the average values for initial density, velocity and flux were approximated. Then the model is implemented on MATLAB and simulated for the key parameters namely; density of cars, velocity, and flux at different time steps. The simultaneous effect of ramps and multi-lanes of road section were analyzed. The results are useful to predict high density regions on the road section at particular location and at specific time step. The research contributes to predict the behavior of traffic flow phenomenon with multi-lanes and ramps and provides directions for future research. The convergence, well-posed Ness and stability of the numerical schemes have also been analyzed. Finally, the results are validated by comparing with some existing methods and found to be realistic.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mehboob Ali Jatoi, Shakeel Ahmed Kamboh, Ghulam Yameen Mallah, Sakina Kamboh (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICAL PROFILE OF VARIOUS SEED SPECIES GROWN IN THE LARKANA REGION, SINDH, PAKISTAN
In present work a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the chemical profile of ten varieties of seeds (Okra, brinjal, cucumber, Indian squash, bitter gourd, watermelon, melon, papaya, strawberry and sesame) grown in agriculturally significant area of Larkana division, Sindh. The main purpose was to investigate their proximate composition, metal content and bioactive compounds to evaluate their nutritional potential. Seed samples were collected from different locations through the region investigated using standard analytical methods. The results exposed noteworthy distinction in the nutritional composition among seed varieties. The highest average protein level of 14300 mg/100g was exhibited by sesame seed-1, whereas maximum carbohydrate contents of 0.368 mg/100g and 0.365 mg/100g declared in sesame seeds and cucumber seeds respectively. The highest concentration of 20.53 mg/100g of flavonoid and 246.22 mg/kg of were sodium was shown by okra seeds, while maximum concentration of 21.45 mg/100g) was found in strawberry seeds. Bitter gourd displayed the maximum concentration of Ca (628.03 mg/kg), Mg (340.37 mg/kg) and Zn (4.43 mg/kg). The highest level of 150.84 mg/kg of K was measured in papaya seeds, while melon seeds declared the maximum of 3.85 mg/kg of Fe level. The findings reveal that various seeds grown in the Larkana region are important reservoirs of essential nutrient and bioactive compounds. This data is crucial for nutritional planning, promoting local agricultural products, and informing farmers and policymakers about optimizing crop selection for enhanced dietary intake and economic opportunity.
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-OES)
Copyright (c) 2025 Ms. Rubina Naz Mirani, Prof. Dr. Ghulam Qadir Shar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DURABILITY ASSESSMENT OF RECYCLED TIRE STEEL AND NYLON HYBRID FIBER-REINFORCED CONCRETE MODIFIED WITH NANO-ZrO₂ FOR RIGID PAVEMENT APPLICATIONS
Excessive mechanical and environmental stresses frequently cause rigid pavements to deteriorate more quickly, resulting in early cracking, moisture intrusion, and a shorter service life. For sustainable rigid pavement applications, this study examines how adding Nano-ZrO₂ to Recycled Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (RHFRC) can increase its durability. In order to create seven concrete mixes, 0.2% Nano-ZrO₂ was combined with recycled tire steel fibers (RTSF) and recycled nylon fibers (RNF) in various hybrid ratios. According to the applicable ASTM and ACI standards, durability was assessed using tests for water absorption, freeze-thaw resistance, impact energy absorption, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), and drying shrinkage. The results showed that adding RTSF and Nano-ZrO₂ together greatly improved frost durability and decreased permeability (by more than 20%). After 200 freeze-thaw cycles, the RTSF1.5 + 0RNF mix maintained 94% of its compressive strength. In comparison to the control mix, impact resistance more than seven times increased, and improved internal integrity was indicated by UPV values (3.8–4.35 km/s). At 180 days, hybrid mixes with a moderate amount of nylon (RTSF1 + RNF0.5) successfully reduced drying shrinkage by 20%. In order to create a more resilient and sustainable pavement concrete, recycled fibers and Nano-ZrO₂ worked in concert to refine the microstructure, increase durability, and limit microcracking.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hafiz Muhammad Saud, Tahir Sultan, Abdul Waqar Rajput, Ammad Hassan Khan, Muhammad Sabeeh Ul Zaman (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A GREEN AND ECONOMICAL METHOD DESIGNED FOR DETECTION OF COBALT IONS UTILIZING BENZOHYDRAZIDE AS REAGENT
A green, simple, and cost-effective spectrophotometric method for the accurate determination of trace cobal (Co (II)) ions was developed utilizing Benzo hydrazide as a chromogenic reagent in a micellar Triton X−100 medium. The method relied on rapidly forming a light pink Co (II)-BH2 ​complex at an optimum pH of 9.0. The complex exhibited maximum absorption (λ_max​) at 436.2 nm and demonstrated excellent temporal stability, with constant absorbance for up to 140 minutes. The proposed method confirmed a 1:2 metal-to-ligand (M: L) ratio. It conformed to linear maximum concentrations range 0.1 to 5.0μgmL-1 with a high correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.999. The high sensitivity of method is evidenced by a molar absorptivity (ϵ) of 4.13×104Lmol-1cm-1 and a Sandel’s sensitivity of 5.3 ngcm-2. The technique was successfully applied and validated by comparing results against certified values and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) in various real-world samples, including pharmaceuticals, certified alloy, water, and wastewater.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Ibrahim Shar, Ghulam Abbas Shar, Gul Afshan Soomro (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ESTIMATION OF CALCIUM FROM KIDNEY STONES IN THE PATIENTS OF KHAIRPUR MEDICAL COLLEGE CIVIL HOSPITAL KHAIRPUR, SINDH, PAKISTAN
Our study aimed to estimate the concentration of Calcium (Ca) from the kidney stones of the patients of Khairpur Medical College Civil Hospital Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. The research was conducted at the Institute of Chemistry, shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur. The research was done on 100 renal calculi specimens (65 men and 35 women in age range of 15 to 80 years). All the stone samples were examined for composition by using UV-vis double beam spectrometer and FTIR spectrophotometery. In FTIR study we noted that 100 examined calculi specimens comprised 48% of COM, 19% of Uric acid (pure), 4% of Calcium Phosphate, 13% of struvite, 4% cystine and 12% mixed calculi of (CaOx + uric acid and CaOx + struvite stones). COM was the dominating type of calculi with a percentage of 48% followed by Uric acid stones. Analysis of renal calculi based on UV-Vis double beam spectrophotomer revealed that Ca was present in all of the kidney stone specimens. The maximum amount of Ca was found in CaOx stones. The average amount of Ca in CaOx, Mixed, Uric Acid and Struvite stones was 33.4, 8.7, 4.16 and 6.74 mg/g.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Ahmed Laghari, Gul Afshan Soomro, Ghulam Abbas Shar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF A CLEOME VISCOSA SEEDS EXTRACT-BASED TOPICAL GEL WITH COMBINED ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES.
Cleome viscosa is a medicinal plant widely recognized in traditional medicine for managing inflammation, fever and skin-related conditions. Despite its extensive ethnopharmacological usage, scientific validation of its therapeutic claims remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity and topical anti-inflammatory potential of C. viscosa seed extract, with an additional focus on the formulation and evaluation of its herbal gel. Seeds of C. viscosa were collected, authenticated, and subjected to methanol extraction. The extract underwent preliminary phytochemical screening to identify key bioactive constituents. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. To assess topical anti-inflammatory activity, herbal gel containing 6%, 7%, and 8% extract concentrations were formulated and tested for stability and physicochemical properties. In vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy was tested using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in Wistar rats, with diclofenac sodium gel used as a standard reference. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, steroids, saponins and fixed oils. The extract exhibited minimal antioxidant activity i.e. 16.72% scavenging at the highest tested concentration. However, notable topical anti-inflammatory effects were observed. Among the formulations, the 7% C. viscosa gel showed the highest inhibition of paw edema (11.24%), closely approximating the standard diclofenac gel (13.02%), suggesting a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory response. Despite weak antioxidant activity, C. viscosa demonstrated significant topical anti-inflammatory potential, supporting its traditional medicinal use. The 7% gel formulation proved both effective and stable, indicating its promise as a plant-based alternative for topical inflammation management and warranting further pharmacological investigation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Farhana Tasleem, Hameed Ullah, Adnan Khan, Tayyaba Mumtaz, Farah Saeed (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN NURSING: BALANCING CARE, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND CONSENT
However, a nurse always faces a complex ethical dilemma when providing care, confidentiality and protection of the client's autonomy which is explicitly protected by informed consent. In this article we look at the ethical responsibility of the nurse in a multidimensional manner highlighting extremely important tension between providing love care, maintaining patient confidentiality and obtaining valid consent. Although ethical principles may conflict, for example, when there is a need to disclose information for treatment but it violates the patient’s privacy; or care is refused by the patient but there a concern about autonomy versus beneficence, the nurses are considered as frontline caregivers. Both of these dilemmas become more complicated in light of cultural diversity, technological developments, legal obligations and institutional policies. This paper reviews contemporary literature and undertakes a case based analysis to identify key ethical frameworks to guide nursing practice such as the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. It also examines how communication, critical thinking and professional ethics education helps NPs address these challenges successfully. As ways of assisting nurses in making ethically sound decisions, the following strategies are discussed: ethical consultation services, interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing training.Finally, this work emphasizes the necessity to reawaken ethics competence in nursing to accompany patient centered care that is patient inclusive yet meets clinical and juridical standards. The fostering of an ethical aware and supportive culture within healthcare environments will help nurses manage the difficult 'treat or betray' balancing act between care, confidentiality and consent and uphold the ethical integrity and trust central to the nursing profession.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ms. Kalsoom Akhtar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION AND ASSOCIATED HUMAN HEALTH RISKS VIA VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION IN JACOBABAD, SINDH, PAKISTAN
This study addresses the significant global concern regarding health risks from consuming heavy metal-contaminated vegetables. We utilized ICP-OES to quantify the concentrations of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Sn, Co, Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb, and As in frequently consumed vegetables from District Jacobabad and subsequently estimated the associated human health risks. The maximum permissible limits (MPL) established by the FAO/WHO for these metals in vegetables were utilized for comparison. Fe, Zn and Cu were found below MPL in all vegetable samples, whereas no limit was suggested for Mn, Sn and Co. the level of Cd was exceeded in capsicum (0.19 mg/kg), tomato (0.09 mg/kg), brinjal (0.09 mg/kg), cauliflower (0.15 mg/kg), green chilli (0.19 mg/kg), fennel (0.21 mg/kg) and cluster beans (0.12 mg/kg). Samples in which Cr was higher than MPL were bitter gourd and methi, with concentrations of 2.57 mg/kg and 2.42 mg/kg, respectively. Spinach, lotus, mustard and green chilli showed higher concentrations of 0.16 mg/kg, 0.139 mg/kg, 0.133 mg/kg and 0.122 mg/kg, respectively. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) was calculated for all metals in each vegetable. Non-carcinogenic risk was evaluated using the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), with results aggregated into the Hazard Index (HI). The values for most samples were greater than 1, with the highest value of 5.6 observed in the tomato sample (Tm). The carcinogenic risk was quantified through the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR), specifically for As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb. The range of total cancer risk (ΣILCR) was found to be 1.036×10⁻³ to 1.157×10⁻², which surpassed the acceptable limit of 1×10⁻⁴, showing significant health risk to inhabitants of the area. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that strict regulatory control be implemented over the safety of vegetables grown in the study area.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tahmina Fakhur-Un-Nisa Abbasi, Shamroz Bano Sahito, Ghulam Qadir Shar (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ACTIONABLE RESILIENCE: DEVELOPING LOCALIZED AND INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION STRATEGIES FOR SKARDU, GILGIT-BALTISTANIN, PAKISTAN
The mountainous area of Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan is facing intensifying risks from several natural and anthropogenic hazards, such as earthquakes, landslides, floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). This paper seeks to undertake a holistic community-based multi-hazard risk modeling in the Skardu district with its both physical hazards and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The research combines primary field surveys, spatial analysis in a GIS environment and literature review to assess community exposure, frequency of hazard and coping capacity. The results indicate that while climate-induced disasters have become increasingly frequent and intense, current disaster management practices continue to be largely top-down in nature, failing to account for the local knowledge systems, traditional coping mechanisms, and the socio-cultural situations. The research underscores the significance of community perspectives to be mainstreamed in DRR planning and underscores the demand for inclusive and localized strategies based on Skardu’s specific geographic, social, and economic conditions. By pin-pointing vulnerabilities in preparedness, response and coordination policies, this study makes actionable suggestions to improve resilience, early warning and livelihoods system and thus suggest policy interventions to support sustainable development in the fragile mountain region of Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2025 Syed Yasir Abbas, Engr. Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, Shehbaz Qasim (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE GROWING ROLE OF MICROBIAL BIOSURFACTANTS IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
The world’s energy needs are still growing, but so is the pressure on industries to operate sustainably. This has pushed the petroleum sector to look for innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. One of the most promising answers comes from nature itself: microbial biosurfactants. These are surface-active molecules produced by microorganisms that offer a powerful and green alternative to the synthetic chemicals used today. This review brings together what we know about the main types of biosurfactants—like rhamnolipids and surfactin—and the microbes that create them. We explore their many uses across the oil and gas industry, focusing on how they can help recover more oil, clean up spills, and maintain equipment. We’ll also break down how they work and discuss the real-world challenges of producing them on a large scale. The conclusion is clear: biosurfactants have tremendous potential to make the petroleum industry more efficient and far less polluting. It is necessary to enhance its compatibility in different types of formations, especially to achieve good results in special reservoirs. By controlling the oil displacement cost, it can achieve the goal of reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and further improving crude oil recovery.
Copyright (c) 2025 Marwana Magaji, Mubarak Musa Bodinga (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DERANGEMENT OF ISLAMIC SYSTEMS IN THE LEGACY OF SOKOTO CALIPHATE: THE EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM ON EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP
This study examines the impact of colonialism on the Sokoto Caliphate, a powerful Islamic state in 19th-century West Africa. The colonial powers exploited the caliphate's resources, imposed their economic systems, and deranged the Islamic system of education and leadership structure. The study highlights the consequences of neglecting the Sokoto Caliphate educational system, including the proliferation of dangerous sects and the distortion of Islamic values. It also explores the methods of teaching in the Sokoto Caliphate educational system and the characteristics of Sokoto Caliphate literature. Ultimately, the study provides insights into the legacy of the Sokoto Caliphate and its relevance to contemporary issues in education, politics, and society.
Copyright (c) 2025 Umaru Haruna Jada, Mu’azu Shehu, Zainab Bello, Buhari Abdullahi, Abdulrahman Buhari (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
GENDER ROLE CONFLICT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING; A CASE STUDY OF SCHOOL TEACHER WORKING IN DISTRICTS OF PUNJAB
World is under a swift change in pattern of gender roles and the societal transformation fundamentally based on the evolution of gender roles. However, the complexity of gender roles leads towards the concept of gender role conflict which have multiple consequences on humans especially on their psychological well-being. The purpose of this contemporary study was to explore the impact of gender role conflict on psychological well-being of teachers working in schools due to their job that become more challenging in term of demands and work intensification. It was a quantitative research and researcher used correlational research design to measure the impact of gender role conflict on psychological well-being of school teachers. Researcher selected the sampling by using multistage sampling technique from four districts of Punjab, Pakistan. O’Neil’s gender role conflict scale was employed to measure the gender role conflict and psychological well-being of school teachers measured by using Ryff's scales psychological well-being. The data was analyzed using correlation analysis and results showed that gender role conflict has significant negative impact on psychological well-being of school teachers. Findings helped in understanding the magnitude of gender role conflict and its impact on psychological well-being of school teachers.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Raza Naseem, Dr. Ra’ana Malik (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER QUALITY AND CONTAMINATION SOURCES IN TALUKA MIRWAH, DISTRICT KHAIRPUR, SINDH
This study was conducted to assess the physico-chemical and trace metal quality of groundwater from seven villages of Taluka Thari Mirwah, District Khairpur, by analyzing 47 sampling locations. The objective was to evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking and domestic purposes in accordance with WHO and EPA Pakistan guidelines. Standard analytical methods were employed to measure pH, total hardness (TH), electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides (Cl⁻), sulfates (SO₄²⁻), nitrates (NO₃–N), alkalinity, sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), and trace metals including manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and cadmium (Cd). Results indicated that pH values were within the permissible limits, while elevated levels of TDS (1440.5 mg/L), chloride (788.76 mg/L), sulfate (296.63 mg/L), TH (1168 mg/L), and alkalinity (733.33 mg/L) exceeded the WHO/EPA guidelines in several locations. Additionally, sodium and calcium reached 504 mg/L and 462 mg/L, respectively, surpassing recommended limits. Trace metal concentrations varied, with the highest levels detected as Mn (0.421 mg/L), Ni (0.105 mg/L), Zn (0.593 mg/L), Cu (0.49 mg/L), Co (0.023 mg/L), Cr (0.033 mg/L), Fe (0.808 mg/L), and Cd (0.01 mg/L). These elevated values, particularly from areas surrounding Taluka Thari Mirwah, suggest potential health risks and indicate groundwater contamination. In conclusion, while the pH values confirm neutral conditions, the high concentrations of salts and heavy metals raise serious concerns regarding the potability and safety of groundwater in the studied villages, necessitating mitigation measures and regular monitoring.
Copyright (c) 2025 Abdul Raheem Shar, Ghulam Qadir Shar, Noor Zaman Shar, Rubina Naz Mirani, Abdul Qadeer Laghari , Sahib Ghanghro, Noorul Hassan Shar, Sanam Rahujo (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE AESTHETICS OF DISIDENTIFICATION: POSTCOLONIAL MELANCHOLIA AND QUEER FUTURITY IN NATASHA BROWN’S ASSEMBLY
In Assembly, Britain’s unresolved colonial wound festers, erupting in forms of melancholia that contaminate the social fabric. The novel’s fragmentation does not merely reflect aesthetic experimentation; it is the very symptom of a fractured subjectivity, one compelled to negotiate the violence of historical amnesia. The narrator moves through elite institutions like a ghost condemned to wear a mask, and yet she transforms this mask into a weapon. By disidentifying, she exposes the absurd theatre of empire’s afterlife and insists on another temporality—one that refuses the stasis of melancholic repetition. Brown’s text thereby stages the confrontation between the pathology of empire and the insurgent energies of refusal, offering literature itself as a terrain of decolonial struggle.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shahroon Ijaz, Muhammad Afzal Faheem, Rizwan Jamil (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EFFECTIVENESS OF TASK SHIFTING AND TASK SHARING POLICY ON ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
This study evaluates the effectiveness of task shifting and task sharing policy on access to essential healthcare services in Bauchi State. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative data collection and analysis methods. A descriptive research study approach was applied. Globally, the world is ageing with more people living longer. Therefore, healthcare systems need to adapt and adjust in meeting the rising demand for quality healthcare of this population. Africa also faces numerous health workforce challenges that are contributing to the health indices and systems’ performance of countries in the continent. These challenges are also impacting negatively on the functionality and the resilience of the health system, and the attainment of key population outcomes. These challenges, which are quite broad and have contextual specificities, include weak health and health workforce leadership, governance and stewardship mechanisms, and management systems, as well as poor regulation, and evidence generation and use mechanism. The aim was to explore the perceptions on effectiveness of task shifting and sharing in Bauchi state Nigeria and strategies for improving task shifting and sharing implementation. Bauchi State were purposively selected for this study because is adapted the National task shifting and sharing policy and plan into sub-national policies and plans in 2015 and have been implementing it. The target population in the states was policymakers in the ministries of health and primary health care agencies. This group was selected because they are responsible for policy formulation and implementation of task shifting and sharing. We found that task shifting could potentially improve several health outcomes such as blood pressure and mental health while achieving cost savings. Key elements for successful implementation of task shifting include collaboration among all parties, a system for coordinated care, provider empowerment, patient preference, shared decision making, training and competency, supportive organizations system, clear process outcome, and financing. The study also found that task shifting and task sharing policy has improved access to essential healthcare services, including immunization, maternal and reproductive health services, and HIV care. The study focuses on understanding task sharing and tasks shifting in Bauchi state, the implementation structures, the cadres involved and their tasks, to what extent task sharing and task shifting was successful. Respondents were drawn from healthcare providers-medical officers, nurses, clinical officers and community health workers at the community units, dispensaries, health centers and hospitals offering family planning services and beneficiaries of the services. Access to essential healthcare services is a critical component of achieving universal health coverage and improving health outcomes. The study recommends that policymakers and healthcare managers provide adequate training and resources to support task shifting and task sharing initiatives and establish effective communication channels to ensure successful implementation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Adamu Usman Muhammad, Prof. AM Muhammad, Prof. AM Isyaku, Aminu Samila Lassi, Sadiq Muhammad Dankade, Mustapha Sani Munkaila (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
SOIL SAMPLING AND DETERMINATION OF SOIL PHYSICAL AND HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT SOILS
Soil physical and hydraulic properties are fundamental indicators of soil functionality, influencing water movement, nutrient availability, and root growth. Accurate determination of these parameters requires precise sampling and standardized analytical procedures. This study was conducted to develop technical competency in soil sampling and to assess key soil physical and hydraulic properties across different soil types. Both disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from the 0–15 cm depth following standard methods. Disturbed samples, obtained with augers, were used for the determination of soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, and organic matter, whereas undisturbed core samples (5 cm × 5 cm) were used for the measurement of bulk density, porosity, soil moisture, and hydraulic conductivity. Soil texture was determined by the hydrometer method, and bulk density and particle density were used to calculate total porosity. Soil moisture content was estimated gravimetrically by oven-drying at 105 °C for 24 hours. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured using a laboratory permeameter and computed based on Darcy’s Law under constant head conditions. Results revealed textural classes ranging from loam to silt loam, with bulk density values between 1.33 and 1.62 g cm⁻³ and porosity between 39% and 50%. Saturated hydraulic conductivity varied from 0.036 to 0.297 cm hr⁻¹ among soil samples, indicating moderate to high permeability. These findings demonstrate the interrelation between soil structure and hydraulic behavior, providing valuable insights for soil management and sustainable agricultural practices.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Hassan Ahmad, Maaz Khan, Muhammad Hasnat Alam Zeb, Salman Rahim, Muhammad Kashif, Shoaib Islam, Saad Saud Jan (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
UNLEASHING THE POWER OF PROACTIVE THOUGHT CONTROL: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS IN YOUNG ADULTS
Background: Proactive thought control mechanism is evolving approach for managing intrusive thought control that need adaptation and validation in different cultures and population. Therefore, the current study aims to test the effectiveness of proactive thought control mechanisms on Pakistani normative sample. Subject and Method: The repeated measure experimental research design was employed. The data was collected from 65 participants between the age ranges 18-25, randomly allocated in suppress (experimental) and control groups. They were subjected to perform a proactive thought control (free association) task in four trials on the computer. Additionally, the effectiveness of intervention was also assessed with subjective measure of Thought Suppression Inventory (TSI) subscale effective suppression scale (ESS). Results: The analysis revealed significant results as the thought suppress group took longer reaction time and significantly higher level of thought suppression as compare to control group which revealed that proactive thought control mechanisms significantly facilitate thought suppression. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the external validity of proactive thought control as it has yielded significant results on Pakistani normative sample. Hence, rectify the need of further investigation of this approach as non-pharmacological intervention for intrusive thoughts.
Copyright (c) 2025 Beenish Zulfiqar, Ather Mujitaba, Kanza Shamas (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0